Tactile breast imager and method for use

a breast imager and tactile technology, applied in the field of tactile breast imager and method for use, can solve the problems of limiting such frequency, high cost of frequent examination, and the possibility of small tumors in mammography
US20040267165A1Inactive Publication Date: 2004-12-30ARTANN LAB +1
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
ARTANN LAB
Publication Date
2004-12-30
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A method and device for breast examination adapted for easy home use including a tactile imager probe equipped with a pressure sensor array and a motion tracking system for simultaneously recording pressure and positioning data during the examination of a breast or any other soft tissue. The method includes a step of starting the examination from a known point or an anatomical mark such as a nipple or a sternum; moving the probe towards the area of interest and oscillating it thereabout while manually or automatically recording pressure and positioning data. Subsequent data analysis identifies the presence of a lesion, calculates its location relative to the probe, estimates the location of the probe relative to the anatomical landmark and finally calculates the location of the lesion relative to that anatomical landmark. The method allows repeating examinations over time with great accuracy as they all start from the same anatomical landmark. The probe includes provisions for easy hand grip or attaching to fingers of a patient, a cable connector or a wireless transmitter for transmitting the data out to a computer or another data analysis device, as well as manual data entry means allowing the patient herself to enter the positioning data.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE DATA

[0001] A priority date benefit is claimed herein from a U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 477,740 filed by the same inventors on Jun. 12, 2003 and entitled "Tactile breast imager", which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0003] This invention relates generally to imaging of biological objects and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for mass breast screening and detecting early changes in mechanical properties of breast tissue that are indicative of breast cancer and other breast pathologies, and, even more specifically, to the utilization of a hand-held self-palpation device for detecting and locating lesions in breast tissue.DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0004] Breast cancer is one of the largest classes of malignant disease in women and the second leading cause of death among women in the United States. Approximately 1 woman in every 10 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

[0005] It has been shown that screening for brea...

Claims

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